Joint for cabinets and the like



June 1925. 1,540,140

E. OHNSTRAND JOINT FOR CABINETS AND THE LIKE Filed 7 July 29. 1922 Mme W may Patented June 2, 1925.

UNITED STATES 1,540,140 PATENT oFricE.

ENOCH OHNSTRAND, OF MOHAWK, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR TO LIBRARY BUREAU, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

JOINT FOR CABINETS AND LIKE.

Application filed July 29, 1922. Serial No. 578,414.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known tha LENooH OHNSTRAND, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Mohawk, in the county of 6 Herkimer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Joints for Cabinets and the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to metal cabinets and the like, such as file cabinets, adapted to hold bulky and heavy records, and more particularly to joints for connectlng or uniting the parts forming the frames of such devices.

The frames of cabinets of the types de scribed are subjected to considerable strain in ordinary use due to the frequent pulling out and closing of the heavily loaded'drawers, which are often moved with considerable force, and to leaving the drawers in extended position. Moreover, when a heavily laden cabinet is moved without removing the drawers the strain upon the frame becomes excessive. Since the joints of cabinets in common use are ordinarily not rigid, the racking they receive soon loosens the joints with the result that the cabinet can be swayed more or less from side to side. This looseness or lack of rigidity on the frame frequently interferes wi the easy operation of drawers and doors and impairs the utility and appearance of the cabinet. 1

One object of the invention is to overcome the defects above noted by providing an improved joint or connection between the parts of the frame which will hold the frame rigid indefinitely. Another object which is incidental to the first relates to improving the appearance of such cabinets.

In order to illustrate the invention, one concrete embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a file cabinet embodying the features of'the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a joint prior to welding;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 2 taken from a different angle and with parts broken away;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the completed joint;

Figures 5 and 6 are plan views of the )arts forming the joint in blank prior to eing bent into shape; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the part shown in Figure 6 after bending;

The embodiment of the invention shown for the purpose of illustration comprises a file cabinet A having a metal frame consisting of uprights 8 interconnected by cross-pieces or separators 9 between which the drawers B of the cabinet slide. The joint shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrates the connection of uprights 8 and cross-pieces 9- but similar joints may be used for the top and bottom of the cabinet also. Uprights 8 and cross-pieces 9 are angular in form as illustrated in the detail views, Figures 2, 3. 4 and 7. The crosspieces 9 are preferably bent to form channel members and are mounted with the bases thereof coplanar or flush with one side (the front) of the file cabinet. The parallel flange portions 10-and 11 of cross-pieces have tenons 12 adapted to extend through vertically spaced slots 13 in the inner sides of uprights 8 and are held therein by wedge pieces 14 extending through aligned openings 15 in the tenons, the wedge members being adapted to abut the inner faces of uprights 8 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The lower end of each wedge member may be bent to prevent its accidental displacement.

As indicated in Figs. 2. 3, and 5, the base or front of each cross-piece 9 is provided at each end with an extension forming a tenon 16 of any desired shape, in this instance substantially rectangular, which fits in a similarly shaped recess 17 in the front of uprights 8, the parts in assembled posi 1 tion being shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Tenon 16 is then integrally united with the oo planar front face of upright 8 as by welding at the points W, Fig. 2. The welding material extends around the top and bot tom edges of the cross-piece as indicated in Figure 5, forming a partial integral connection of the parallel flanges 10 and 11 to the cross-pieces. Thus the weld in two angular planes together with the tenons and wedge connections forms an exceptionally strong and rigid joint which in front view Figs. 1 and 4 shows no crack or joint whatever in the frame.

Thus the parts 8 and the horizontal parts 10 and 11 meet at a right-angle, with the .the parts 9. in parallelism to produce. The tenons and slots are formed prior to bendin to dispose slot 17 extending upperand lower sides of the an lar arts 9 interlocked with the inner side 0 the angular uprights 8 and the front sides of 'referably co planar as shown) .Wlth the ront sides of the uprights 8. J I I r The joint above described is economical when the blanks for the uprights 8 and cross-pieces 9 are struck out. A section of the blank for one of the cross-pieces 9 is shown in Fi 5, and a plortion of a lank for one o the uprig ts' 8 is shown prior to bending in Fig. 6 and after bending in Fi 7. As indicated theblanks for upri ts 8 are bent through the inner edge of thefront so t at the extension or tenon 16 of the cross-piecesmay lie in the plane of the uprights.

I claim:

1. A joint comprising angular members joined together with one pair of sides meetmg at an angle and another pair of sides in arallelism, the sides of said first pair being interlocked together, and the sides of the other pair having a coplaner tongue and recess interfitting together.

2. A joint comprising angular members joined together with one pair of sides meetmg at an angle and another pair of sides in parallelism, the sides of said first pair bemg interlocked together, and the sides of the other pair having a'coplaner tongue and recess interfitting together, the edge of said tongue beingwelded to the walls of'said recess.

' the other part, said'parts being integra 3. A joint between parts angular-in crosssection, and meeting at an angle with one side of one part coplaner with one side {ff 3 united by interfitting portions on said. coplaner sides, and aninterlocking connection etween other sides of said parts.

4. A joint comprising hollowuprights, a cross-piece angular in cross section extending between said uprights havingits front vide a seamless front and rigid joints.

5. A joint for file cabinets and the like having a member U-shaped in cross section I engaging an angular support with the base of the U-member coplaner with one side of said support, means attaching the parallel flanges of the U-member to the other side of said suaport anda tenon on the base of the U-mem r fitting in a'recess in the said first side of the support and integrally united thereto.

' 6. A cabinet joint construction including an upright having lateral slots and a face mortise formed therein and a cross piece having shoulders abutting the upright, tenons centrally projecting beyond the shoul-f ders into the slots, means securing the tenons to the uprightand an additional tenon projecting and secured within the face mor-.

tise whereby the shoulders and tenon pre vent relative twisting movement of the,

parts about the slot-engaging tenons. 7. A joint comprising two angular frame members meeting at an angle and having one pair of sides lying'in substantially the same plane and another pair of sides lying in intersecting planes, the sides of the first pair having an vinterfitting tongue and recess and the sides of the second being connected together.

8. A joint comprising two angular frame members meeting at an angle and having one pair of sides lying in substantiall the same plane and another pair of sides i y in intersecting planes. the sides of the first pair having aninterfitting tongue and recess welded together and the sides of the other pair abutting each other.

Signed by me at Mohawk, N. Y., this 26th day of July, 1922. ENOCI-I- OHNSTRAND ing 

